model making

[tverdin]

I am trying to figure out a new way of creating models for my fiberglass shop. In the past building a model was very expensive for our company and alot of times would lose out on custom jobs because of this. With the CNC technology and the progress we have made with our Bot, I cant help but think we are just doing it wrong. The problem is, I am new to this part of it, does anyone know much about creating models like this? such as percentage of draft needed, best materials to create your model out of? best release products for this???? all of these things are critical to do it properly.

Our company has been doing all of our fiberglass the same for years and years and years. again, I cant help but think that with todays advances, they havent come far in this industry too. anyone with experience in this type stuff??

[chiloquinruss]

Go to the Vectric website and look at their great tutorials on all things 3d. I think they have almost all of the bases covered. I have done some patterns for a casting foundry locally and they pretty much tell me what they want in degrees of taper etc,. and then I make a model of the pattern out of foam. They then measure it all out and if it passes we then make a good master. What kinds of projects are you creating out of fiberglass? That might help us guide you to where you might go next for more answers. Russ

http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/hobbycnc.htm?gclid=CIKQ38vSnLMCFYp_QgodFRQAdw

[tverdin]

We are actually a bell and clock company, we have a bronze foundry and have already started using our shopbot for creating patterns for the foundry. but alot is different with fiberglass models so Im not sure the products to use when creating them. We make most of our clock housings out of fiberglass. Check out our page to see what type of clocks I am talking about. These are larger clocks than what most people think of. The info I am looking for the most is the products used after creating the model to create the part. I think i could figure most of the draft % out but was hoping maybe there was a good formula to use on most applications.

I will look at the link you posted and see what all info it has. Thanks

www.verdin.com

[Greybarn]

Typically, the rule of thumb is at least one degree of draft, and preferably two degrees of draft between vertical faces, is what we use. Anything more than that starts to create odd looking angles between things like a hatch and a gutter.
Regards
Peter G. Smith

[Bob Eustace]

Now Tommy they are humungos clocks! Look back through the forum for a guy that made a huge camel using the slice technique.

[SomeSailor]

Really enjoyed watching your video. What an amazing family business and a great place for a Shop Bot.

[chiloquinruss]

Over the years I think most folks on the forum doing similar types of things use high density foam to make their female masters. They are sealed using a product called smooth-on I believe and as stated above using Aspire etc you can build your large patterns using the 'slice' method. My favorite 'slice' project shown on this forum a few years ago was a huge gorilla. The head was like 6 feet tall! Russ

[tverdin]

Thanks alot guys. Its a different business and we enjoy it. always something new to figure out how to do. I will look into everything you guys said. Thanks for all the input!